Journal Outcomes Research

Measuring quality of life in female urinary urge incontinence: development and psychometric properties of the Incontinence Quality of Life Index

Abstract
Urinary incontinence is a common health problem with a prevalence of between four and six per cent for daily incontinence in women. Little use has been made of standardised health status instruments to investigate the impact of the condition and no suitable specific quality of life instrument is available.

This paper describes the development of a quality of life instrument, the Incontinence Quality of Life Index (IQoLI), that is specific to urinary urge incontinence in women. The measure is shown to have good reliability, validity and responsiveness. It is suitable for inclusion in clinical trials and for monitoring patients in routine clinical practice. Although developed in Sweden, the instrument has been adapted for use in the UK and Canada.